Page 113 of Over Time Advantage

When Harper goes to the bathroom, I subtly encourage Kennedy to tell her parents. She practically laughs in my face.

Shit. What am I going to do?

TWENTY-TWO

JETT

Ireach over for Fallon’s hand in the car. I can’t not touch her. It’s a constant need.

Pulling her palm to my lips for a kiss, I smile over at her. “Why do you look so nervous?” I ask. “I’m the one meeting your parents.”

She blows out a breath. “My mom is a piece of work. I apologize in advance for anything and everything that comes out of her mouth tonight.”

Harper giggles from the backseat. “I’m telling Nanny you said that.”

Fallon looks back at her. “You stay quiet, young lady, or I’ll make you eat Nanny’s turkey at Thanksgiving.”

Harper’s face falls in horror, and I chuckle. “What’s wrong with her turkey?”

“It’s as dry as a mouthful of sand,” Fallon answers.

Harper nods. “Grandpa, that’s Daddy’s dad, almost choked at Thanksgiving two years ago.”

I look at Fallon. “You do Thanksgiving with Tanner’s extended family?”

She nods. “It’s just his dad. His mom died a long time ago.” She mouths, “And his brother is an asshole.”

“Got it.” They may have the most amicable divorce of all time. My parents don’t like to spend time together, let alone adding Ginny’s parents to the mix. I can’t imagine us as one big happy family like Fallon and Tanner’s, even when we were married. Certainly not after the divorce.

My eyes meet Harper’s in the rearview mirror. “Noted to steer clear of Nanny’s turkey.”

Harper giggles again. She’s so cute. “Poppy has an endless supply of ketchup packets. He collects them and secretly hands them to everyone to help get the turkey down.”

We pull up to an impressive Philadelphia suburban house. It’s way too much house for people who only live here for a few months a year.

The door swings open as we’re walking up the stairs, and an attractive woman, who very clearly is related to Fallon, opens the door. I think Fallon said she’s nearly seventy, but she looks a few years younger than that. She and Fallon share the same eyes and coloring. She’s dressed nicely in brown slacks and a thin, cream-colored cardigan sweater set.

She smiles widely. “Oh wow, sweetie, he’s very handsome. And so large.”

Fallon tucks her lips behind her teeth and nods. “I’m aware, Mother.”

I chuckle as I hold out my hand. “I’m Jett. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

She pulls me in for a hug. “I’m Doris and very happy to meet you.”

I return her hug and then hand her a bottle of wine. “This is for you.”

She smiles as she examines it. “Thank you. And where’s my favorite little girl hiding?”

Harper runs and wraps her arms around Doris’s waist. “Hi, Nanny. I’m ebullient for our slumber party.” She’s doing a sleepover with her grandparents to give Fallon and me some much-needed alone time.

I need to carry a thesaurus to hang out with this kid.

Doris shakes her head in obvious pride and amusement. “I’m ebullient too. We’re going to make pancakes in the morning.”

Harper jumps up and down. “I love pancakes. Can we make pineapple pancakes like Bails does?”

Doris’s face falls. “We’ll see about that. That’s a little unusual, but I suppose I’m not surprised,” she says judgmentally.